Six Jews were sentenced to death in Kiev, while six non-Jews were given prison terms, at the conclusion of a mass trial there of 12 more Soviet citizens accused of “economic crimes,” according to a Kiev newspaper here today.
The newspaper, Rabochaya Gazetta, dated January 5, listed the following, all evidently Jewish, as having received the death sentences: G. Friberg, H. Tendler, A. Grossman, B. Pecharsky, E. Handshau and A. Pekelsky. All 12 defendants had been accused of illegal currency speculation and of forging currency. However, only the Jews were sentenced to death.
Jewish circles here pointed to the facts as reported by the Kiev newspaper as another instance in which the Soviet Government encourages anti-Semitism by penalizing Jews more harshly than non-Jews and publicizing their names in the controlled Communist press in such a manner as to advance anti-Semitism in the USSR.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
